The Delhi High Court has ruled that a university can keep recruitment appointments on hold while investigating suspected unfair practices in a public examination. Setting aside an earlier order, the court said protecting the credibility of the selection process is paramount when merit lists raise doubts. The case involved Delhi University appointments based on an NTA-conducted examination.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a university can put appointments on hold while it investigates suspected use of unfair means in a public recruitment examination, particularly when there are serious doubts over whether the merit list reflects genuine merit.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia set aside a Single Judge's order directing Delhi University to proceed with the appointment of candidates selected for the posts of laboratory attendant and library attendant in an examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The ruling underlines the importance of protecting the credibility of a public recruitment process when questions arise over the integrity of an examination, Live Law reports.

Merit List Under Scanner

The High Court held that when available material creates a reasonable apprehension that a merit list may not reflect genuine merit, the university is entitled, and duty-bound, to pause the appointment process and examine the matter before allowing selected candidates to join.